Dispensing device



Nov. 17, 1942. C. L DAUN DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Oct. 18, 1939 2:meets-Sheet 1 INV ENT OR. ABL L. DAUN ATTORNEY.

BY l W Nov. 17, 1942. C, L DAUN 2,302,008

DI SPENS ING DEVICE Filed Oct'. 18. 1939 2 Sheets-Shea?I 2 A: 5gg/11111'rllllullnllllflll/L INVENTOR CARL L. .DUN

WWQW

ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 1.7, 1942 `UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPENSIN G DEVICECarl L. Daun, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application October 18, 1939, Serial No. 299,933 1 12 claims. (ci. 22a-3) This invention relates to the method of and means for coolingliquids, and although capable of highly advantageous use in cooling anddispensing` carbonated beverages such as beer, may

also be employed for cooling various other liquids. A

One of the objects of the invention is to provide for very rapid andefficient cooling of the liquid. For example, in connection with thecooling and dispensing of beer, the cooling action is attained duringthe passage of the beer through 1 0 the tap rod, although this distanceis usually not more than twenty-eight inches in length, and it isnecessary at times to effect a temperature drop of twenty degrees ormore.

Another object of the invention is to so cir- -1 5 culate therefrigerant that it operates' `with maximum efficiency to effect coolingof the liquid,

and incidentally its circulation is insured.

Generally speaking, the present invention proposes to form the liquid tobe cooled into a tubu- 20 lar, usually a cylindrical film, and then tocool both surfaces of the iilm. This may be advantageously accomplishedby forming and flowing the film through a film-forming conduitconstituted of two closely spaced, thin metal walls of high thermalconductivity and circulating the refrigerant or cooling medium throughjackets surrounding both the inner and outer walls of the film-formingconduit, the refrigerant or coolin contact first with the inner surfaceof the inner wall and then in contact with the outer surface of theouter wall.

Where the invention is employed for the purpose of cooling beer, thefilm-forming conduit and the jackets therefor and their connections(which constitute the refrigerant or cooling medium means), are allincorporated in a tap rod construction, which as is well known, isinserted through a tap bushing in the head of the beer barrel or keg andextends down through the beer to a low point in the barrel. A tap rodconstructed in accordance with the present invention would be made upgenerally of three metal tubes, usually concentric, the tubes beingthin-walled and of high thermal conductivity. Combinedv with the tubesis means to provide an inlet from a low point in the barrel to the spacebetween the inner and intermediate tubes and means at the upper ends ofthe tubes for conveying the cooled beer from the space between the innerand intermediate tubes to a dispensing faucet. Means `is also combinedwith the inner tube, intermediate and outer tubes'to cause refrigerantfirst Yto pass down throughthe inner tube, then to cross over into andflow up through the space vbetween the intermediate and outer tubes, and

finally return to the refrigerating unit. The space between the innerand intermediate tubes through which the beer flows is very slight,being of the order of .003 of an inch, so that when the beer ows throughthis space it is formed into a cylindrical film, the surfaces of whichengage or are in contact with the chilled metal walls defining thespace.

Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of theconstruction, arrangement, and combination of parts, which will behereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in theappended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsforming a part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view, partly in diametrical vertical section,and partly in side elevation, showing a tap rod embodying the presentinvention and of the type adapted for the direct draw of the beer.

Figure 2 is a View similar to Figure 1 showing a slight modification ofthe structure.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the device embodiedin the tap rod of the` partly in diametrical vertical section, showinging medium in flowing through said jackets being 30 still anothermodification of the invention.

Figure 5 is a fragmentaryview partly in elevation and partly in sectionfurther illustrating the cross-over construction employed between theinner tube and the space between the intermediate and outer tubes.

Figures 6, 7, and 8 are views in section taken onl lines 6 6, 1 1, and8--8, respectively .of Figure 4.

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view in elevation illustrating the manner inwhich the tap rod embodying the present invention is combined with abeer keg.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that in all embodiments ofthe invention the tap rod employed for carrying out the cooling method,and designated as a whole at T, is made up generally of an inner tubel0, an intermediate tube Il, and an outer tubular structure designatedgenerally at l2. In all forms of the invention the inner andintermediate tubes l0 and Il are constituted of a single length oftubing, and this is true of the outer tube also in the form of theinvention shown in Figure 4. However, in the form of the invention shownin Figures 1, 2, and 3, the outer tubular structure l2 is made up of anumber of sections suitably connected together. In the particularconstruction illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the outer tubular structureI2 comprises a lower tube section I3, a short intermediate tube sectionI4, a fitting l5 connecting the sections I3 and I4, and a tting I 6connected to the section I4.

In the forms of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 3, the tting I6 isconnected to the lower end of the upper section Il of the outer tubestructure I2, which upper section is of the same diameter as theintermediate and lower sections.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 2, the fitting I6 isconnected to the lower end of the short connecting section I8 of theouter tube structure, which in turn connects to a coupling I9 between itand the lower end of an enlarged chamber 26, the chamber 2|!y being alsoof tubular form, but of larger diameter than that of the other sectionsof the outer tube structure I2.

The construction employed at the lower end of the tap rod is the same inFigures 1 `to 3 and is shown in Figure 1 only. As there illustrated, thespace I2` between the intermediate and outer tubes is closed at thelower ends of the tubes by a bushing 2| which iits within the lower endof the outer tube, and has an inwardly directed ilange 22 abutting thelower end of the intermediate tube I I. This bushing 2| is sweated orsoldered to the tubes I I and I 2. The portion of the bushing 2| belowits flange 22 is provided with internal threads, which engage in theassembly,

with external threads provided on the reduced upper end of an inlet tip23. The inlet tip 23 has inlet openings 24 therein, is equipped with ascreen 25, and establishes communication between the low point of thebarrel and the space I6 between the inner and intermediate tubes IE! andII.

In the forms of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 3, the ends of theinner tube Il) have crossovers 26 and 26 combined therewith which Serveas plugs to block off communication between the interior of the innertube Ii) and the space I Il between the inner and intermediate tubes,and also form elbow-like ttings to establish communicaopen end tted inand soldered to its end of the` inner tube It. The outer end of eachbody portion 21 is closed by an integral and pointed end wall 28.Intermediate its ends each body portion 21 is pro-vided with an integralported lateral projection 29 which is tted in and soldered to avcorrespondingly formed slot provided in the adjacent portion of theintermediate tube II. In the forms of the invention shown in Figures 1and 3 the ports of the projections 29 open into the space I2 andestablish free communication between this space |2 and the interior ofthe inner tube Id. The same is substantially true of the constructionshown in Figure 2, save that the port of the upper projection 29 opensinto the interior of the chamber 26, which is, in effect, an enlargedextension of the space I2.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 3 a barrier ring 36is interposed between and soldered t-o the' section I 4 of the outertubular structure I2 and the intermediate tube I I topre- For thispurpose these cross-overs 26 and:

vent short-circuiting of the refrigerant and to cause the refrigerantflowing in through inlet ftting I6 to rise in the space IZ above thebarrier ring 30, then pass through the upper cross-over 26 into theinner tube lil, down through the inner tube II), laterally through thelower crossover 26, and up through the space I2 below the barrier ring30 to the return tting I5.

The construction of the upper end of the tap rod is varied in accordancewith the type of apparatus with which it is employed. As shown in Figure1, the space between the intermediate and outer tubes at the upper endthereof is blocked by intertting therewith and soldering thereto thereduced lower end of a pipe section 3|. The interior of the lower end ofthe pipe section 3| is in y open communication with the space orpassageway I A faucet 32 is suitably coupled, as at 33, to the upper endof the pipe section 3|.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 2, the faucet 32 connectswith the space I6 be tween the intermediate and inner tubes by means ofa connecting nipple 34. A ring 34' is tted between the upper end of tubeand expansion chamber 2E] and is soldered thereto to close off the upperends of these parts.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 3, pipe section 3| isemployed, but connects with a beer cock 35 as this structure is adaptedfor basement draw.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 4, a single tting isemployed to establish communication with the refrigerant lines and withthe beer dispenser. This may take the form of a casting, designated at453, and having an upper refrigerant line connecting nipple 4| and alower refrigerant line connecting nipple 42 and an intermediate nipple43 for connection with the beer dispenser. The upper end of the outertube I2 is connected with and soldered to the lower end of this casting43 and has open communication with the nipple 42. The intermediate tube|I has its upper end seated in and soldered to a ported partition 43formed in casting 40 and disposed below the beer dispensing connection43. The upper end of the inner tube IB is seated in and soldered to aported partition 44 which is also integral with casting 4)V and isdisposed just below the nipple 4|.

The casting 40 thus provides the structure to replace ttings I5 and I6and cross-over 26 in the other forms of the invention. Between the lowerend of the inner tube I6 and the intermediate tube I I a cross-over 26ais provided as before. In this instance, however, the cross-over 26a isformed by slotting the lower portion of the inner tube ||l and extrudingor fianging out the margin ofv its slot, the flange of the slot `of thetube II) being fitted in and soldered to aV correspondingly formed slotin the tube ||V as before. Also, an inlet tip, designated at 23', ofsubstantially the ,same construction as the inlet tip 23, is provided atthe lower end of the tap rod. The inlet tip 23' is threadedly connectedto a bushing 2 I which is combined with and soldered to the tubes and I2in substantially the same manner as bushing 2|, but differs slightly inconstruction from the corresponding bushing 2| shown in Figure l, in

that the flange 22 is omitted, and in that the tip 23, which is threadedto the bushing 2| as before, also holds in place a disc-like strainer 25which has its peripheral portion abutting against the lower end of thetube II, and a downwardly facing shoulder presented by the portion ofthe bushingll' located above its internally threaded action of theapparatus.

portion. |'he lower end of the v'inner Ytube IIl'in this form of theinvention is closed by a, plug 45.

As 4illustrated in Figure `9, a tap rod T'embodying the presentinvention is inserted in the usual way-in the container or keg C, theconvention tap fitting F being employed as usual between the tap rod Tand the tap bushing (not shown).

The portion of the tap rod that extends down into the container extendsto the low point in the barrel, as usual.

In all forms of the invention, the beer in flowing from the barrel flowsout through the space I between the thin-walled metal tubes I0 and II ofhigh thermal conductivity, and in passing ing or chilling the outersurface of the film in, In this way the beer being drawnl the space I0.is effectively cooled.

Furthermore, in passing up through the space I2 the refrigerant chillsthe outer tubular structure l 2. A portion at least of this structure I2is immersed in the beer in a keg or barrel. As a consequence there isaround the outside of the portion of the tubular structure I2 immersedin beer, a column of beer which is being continuously cooled. As thiscolumn of beer is cooled it falls and other warmer beer comes intoContact with the portion of the tubular structure I2 immersed in thebeer. Thus, the beer in the keg is continuously cooled and gentlycirculated.

Another feature of importance is the fact that the refrigerant is socirculated as to be brought into heat interchanging relation with thebeer being dispensed before exerting any cooling effect on the body ofthe beer in the keg. In fact, the refrigerant flowing down through theinner tube I0 is effectively insulated from the beer in the keg. Thisenhances the action and also insures circulation of the refrigerantsince it is not deprived of enough heat to boil or vaporize in the innertube I0. While there is an upilow of the refrigerant in the space I2from the refrigerant inlet fitting I to the upper cross-over 26, thereis no demand for any substantial refrigerating action since therefrigerant is merely protecting the previously cooled beer in the spaceIII. The beer being dispensed is cooled during the downflow of therefrigerant inthe inner tube III and its upflow in the lower portion ofspace I2' on its Way to the return tting I5. And in some constructions,as shown in Figure 4 for example, there is no upllow of the refrigerantin space I2' at all. The advantage of having the enlarged chamber 20 isto insure a more even, efficient There is always adjacent the tap rod asupply of refrigerant suicient for the demands placed upon the tap rod.In other words, the chamber 20 provides in the tap rod a reservoir for areserve supply of refrigerant to take care of peak demands and to pro-'vide for uniform, eilicient cooling action at all times. Furthermore,the refrigerant chills the wall of the metal chamber 20 and forms a,frost thereon, which enhances the attractiveness of the It is to beunderstood that'any suitable cooling medium may be circulated throughthe tap rod. In some instances cold water may be used as the coolingmedium. Preferably, however, the fittings I5 and I6 in the one instance,or the nipples 4I and 42 in the other, are connected up to a mechanicalrefrigerating unit. Some suitable form of a Vapor compression machinemay be employed, and while any refrigerant may be employed, Freon hasbeen used to good advantage.

Similarly, any suitablel metal or alloy may be employed for the tubes I0, II, and I 2. It is essential that these tubes be thin Walled and ofhigh thermal conductivity, and also chemically inert to beer or otherliquid being cooled. Tubes constituted of tinned copper may beadvantageously used.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the control whichis had over the temperature of the beer or beverage in the keg orcontainer. The mechanical refrigerating system with which the presentinvention is used may be regulated to accurately control or predeterminethe temperature of the refrigerant in the passageway I2 between theintermediate and outer tubes. By maintaining the temperature in thepassage-way I2 at the proper value, the temperature of the beer in thekeg may be regulated accordingly. For example, in some instances it maybe desirable to maintain the temperature of the refrigerant in thepassage-way I2 at 28 F. This, of course, will bring the temperature ofthe beer surrounding and contacting with the outer tube to approximatelythe same temperature. As the beverage surrounding and in contact withthe outer tube has its temperature lowered it will of course fall ormove downwardly in the keg, thereby producing a gentle and continuouscirculation of the beverage in the container to maintain it not onlycool but also to age it and improve it as to palatability and otherrespects. It is to be understood, of course, that depending upon theconditions encountered the temperature of the refrigerant in thepassage-way I2 may be raised or lowered as desired. The essentialfeature, in so far as this phase of the invention is concerned, is thefact that the refrigerant in a closed circuit is circulated through thetap rod in contact with the outer tube or wall thereof.`

While I have shown and described several constructions in which theinvention may be advantageously embodied, it is to be understood thatkthe constructions shown have been selected merely for the purpose o-fillustration or example, and that various changes in the size, shape,and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from thespirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

l. A tap rod for dispensing carbonated beverages from a container andcomprising an inner thin-walled metal tube of high thermal conductivity,an intermediate thin-walled metal tube of high thermal conductivitysurrounding and in closely spaced relation to the inner tube andcoacting therewith to define an intermediate passageway of film-formingdimensions, an outer tubular structure surrounding and in spacedrelation to the intermediate tube and coacting therewith to denne anouter passageway, crossover connections between the ends of the innertube and said outer passageway, means for closing the lower end of theouter passageway, an inlet tip at the lower end of the tap rod providingfor communication between a low point ln the container and theintermediate passageway, means for closing the upper end of the outerpassageway, a conduit leading from the upper end of the intermediatepassageway, and means for circulating a refrigerant down through theinner tube and up through the outer passageway.

2. A tap rod for dispensing carbonated beverages from a container andcomprising an inner thin-walled metal tube of high thermal conductivity,an intermediate thin-walled metal tube of high thermal conductivitysurrounding and in closely spaced relation to the inner tube andcoacting therewith to denne an intermediate passageway of film-formingdimensions, an outer tubular structure surrounding and in spacedrelation to the intermediate tube and coacting therewith to denne anouter passageway, cross-over connections between the ends of the innertube and said outer passageway, means for closing the lower end of theouter passageway, an inlet tip at the lower end of the tap rod providingfor communication between a low point in the container and theintermediate passageway, means for closing the upper end of the outerpassageway, a conduit leading from the upper end f the intermediatepassageway, inlet and return ttings connected to longitudinallyspaced'portions of the outer passageway and adapted to be co-nnected tosupply and return lines of the refrigerating system, and a barrier inthe outer passageway intermediate said ttings.

3. A tap rod for carbonated beverages comprising an inner thin-walledmetal tube of high thermal conductivity, an intermediate thin-walledmetal tube of high thermal conductivity, an outer tubular structuresurrounding and in spaced relation to the intermediate tube, the spacebetween the inner and intermediate tubes being relatively slight and offilm-forming dimensions, means connecting the inner tube and theintermediate tube at points longitudinally spaced along said tubes toestablish communication between the interior of the inner tube and thespace between the intermediate and outer tubes, andL closing offcommunication between the interior of the inner tube and the spacebetween'the inner and intermediate tubes, means for closing off thespace between the intermediate tube and the outer tubular structure atthe lower ends thereof, an inlet tip at the lower end of the tap rodcommunicating with the space between the inner and intermediate tubes,means for closing the space between the intermediate and outer tubes atthe upper ends thereof, a conduit leading from the upper end of thespace between the inner and lintermediate tubes, and means forcirculating refrigerant down through the inner tube and then up throughthe space between the intermediate and outer tubes.

4. A tap rod for a container for carbonated beverages comprising threeconcentric thinwalled metal tubes of high thermal conductivity, meanscombined with the lower ends of the tubes to provide an inlet from a lowpoint in the container to the space between the inner and intermediatetubes, means combined with the inner, intermediate and outer tubes toconvey a refrigerant down through the inner tube, then over into thespace between the intermediate and outer tubes, and then up to a returnline, and means adapted to convey the cooled beverage from the upper endof the space between the inner and intermediate tubes to the point whereit is to be dispensed, the space between the .inner and intermediatetubes being relatively slight and of film-forming dimensions whereby thebeverage in flowing through said space is formed into a cylindrical nlmand subjected as such to the cooling effect of the refrigerant exertedthrough the wall of the inner tube and the wall of the intermediate tubeon both surfaces of the cylindrical iilm.

5. A tap rod for a container for carbonated beverages comprising threeconcentric tubes, means connecting the inner tube and the cylindricalspace between the intermediate tube and the outer tube at points axiallyspaced along said tubes and closing of communication between theinterior of the inner tube and the space between the inner andintermediate tubes, means to close the ends of the space between theintermediate and outer tubes, means adapted to establish communicationbetween the low point of the container and the space between the innerand intermediate tubes, means adapted to establish communication betweenthe upper end of the space between the inner and intermediate tubes anda dispenser, means for supplying refrigerant to the upper end of theinner tube, means for conveying away refrigerant from the space betweenthe intermediate and outer tubes, the space between the inner andintermediate tubes being relatively slight and of nlm-forming dimensionswhereby the beverage in flowing through said space is formed into acylindrical film and subjected as such to the cooling effect of arefrigerant exerted through the wall of the inner tube and the wall ofthe intermediate tube on both surfaces of the cylindrical film.

6. A tap rod for containers for carbonated beverages comprising an innerthin-walled metal tube of high thermal conductivity, an intermediatethin-walled metal tube of high thermal conductivity, an outer tubularstructure surrounding and in spaced relation to the intermediate tube,the space between the inner and intermediate tubes being relativelyslight and of film-forming dimensions, means connecting the inner tubeand the intermediate tube at points longitudinally spaced along saidtubes to establish communication between the interior of the innerV tubeand the space between the intermediate and outer tubes, and closing offcommunication between the interior of theiinner tube and the spacebetween the inner and intermediate tubes, means for closing off thespace between the intermediate tube and the outer tubular structure atthe ends thereof, an inlet tip at the lower end of the tap rod providingfor communication between the low point in the container and the spacebetween the inner and intermediate tubes, a conduit leading from theupper end of the space between the inner and intermediate tubes, inletand return ttings connected to longitudinally spaced portions of theouter tubular structure and adapted to be connected to the supply andreturn lines of a refrigerating system, and a barrier in the spacebetween the intermediate and outer tubes and located between saidttings, said outer tubular structure having an enlarged section on thesupply side of said barrier providing a reservoir for the refrigerantsupply to the tap rod.

'7. A tap rod for a container for carbonated beverages comprising twotubes of high thermal conductivity disposed one within the other anddeiining between them a nlm-forming conduit for the liquid to be cooled,an inlet tip at the lower end of the tap rod providing for communicationbetween a low point in the container and one end of said conduit, meansfor jacketing the outer tube, and means for circulating a cooling mediumdown through said inner tube and up through said jacket.

8. A tap rod for a container for carbonated beverages comprising threetubes of high thermal conductivity disposed one within the other and inspaced relation, the space between the inner and intermediate tubesbeing relatively slight and of film-forming dimensions, cross-overconnections establishing communication between the ends of the innertube and the space between the intermediate and outer tubes, an inlettip at the lower end of the tap rod providing for communication betweena low point in the container and the space between the in ner andintermedi'- ate tubes, a conduit leading from the upper end of the spacebetween the inner and intermediate tubes, inlet and return ttingsconnected to longitudinally spaced ports of the outer tube and adaptedto be connected to the supply and return lines of a refrigeratingsystem, and a barrier in the space between the intermediate and outertubes and located between said ttings.

9. A tap rod for a container for carbonated beverages comprising threeconcentric thinwalled metal tubes of high thermal conductivity, meanscombined with the lower ends of the tubes to provide an inlet from a lowpoint in the container to the space between the inner and intermediatetubes, means combined with the inner, A

Cil

intermediate and outer tubes to convey a refrigerant down through theinner tube, then over into the space between the intermediate and outertubes, and then to a return line, and means adapted to convey the cooledbeverage from the upper end of the space between the inner andintermediate tubes to the point where it is to be dispensed.

l0. A tap rod for a container for carbonated beverages comprising threetubes of high thermal conductivity disposed one within the other and inclosely spaced relation, the space between the inner and intermediatetubes serving as a passage through which the beverage is passed, aninlet tip at the lower end o'f the tap rod and providing forcommunication between a low point in the container and one end of saidpassage, means combined with the inner, intermediate, and outer tubes toconvey a refrigerant down through the inner tube, then over into thespace between the intermediate and cuter tubes, and then to a returnline, and means adapted to convey the cooled beverage from the upper endof said passage to a point where it is to be dispensed.

11. A device for cooling and dispensing carbonated beverages comprisinga container for the beverage and a tap rod combined with the containerand having a portion extending down through the beverage to a low pointin the container, said tap rod comprising three tubes of high thermoconductivity disposed one within the other and in closely spacedrelation, the space between the inner and intermediate tubes serving asa pasage through which the beverage is dispensed, an inlet tube at thelower end of the tap rod and providing for communication between a lowpoint in the container and one end of said passage, and means combinedwith the inner, intermediate and outer tubes to convey a refrigerantdown through the inner tube and then over and up through the spacebetween the intermediate and outer tubes.

12. A tap rod of the character described cornprising three tubes of highthermo conductivity disposed one within the other and in spacedrelation, the space between the inner and intermediate tubes beingrelatively slight and of iilmforming dimensions, cross-over connectionsestablishing communication between the ends of the inner tube and theadjacent portions of the space between the intermediate and outer tubes,an inlet tip at the lower end cf the tap rod communicating with thespace between the inner and intermediate tubes, inlet and return ttingsconnected to longitudinally spaced portions of the outer tube andadapted to be connected to the supply and return lines of arefrigerating system, and a barrier in the space between theintermediater and outer tubes located between said fittings.

CARL L. DAUN.

